Tool for expanding wall plugs



April 16, 1957 w. A. Bul-n. 2,788,571

TOOL FOR EXPANDING WALL. PLUGS Filed Jan. 19, 1955 W16 f3 L Fles Afl-River United States Patent O i 2,733,571 :ToorJ .FOR :EXPANpmG'wALL PLUGS William `A. AF.luslling, N. Y. Application January 19,19s-s,-svena1 No. 332,013

' s crains. `(lol. zii- 275) T lhis invention relates Ito a -new and useful tool for use in connection with the insertion and expansion 4of `plugs inwalls.

When screws and similar fastening Vdevices are to be disposed 'in"walls `other tha"woo"d, `such as concrete,

stone, and the like,"it` lis necessary to make -holes in the wall material to receive the elements. In order to'hold the elements rmly in 'the hole, expandableplugs are'employed. These are preferably made of fabric,k preferably woven, around a soft core such asy lead,4 graphite,`or like material to form a basis on which the fabric may be Woven and `to Ahold `it in shape -until used. Generally the plug iis selected of Aproper diameter and length to fit the prepared hole `but it Yhas to be expanded therein andthe .core opened `to permit of ready insertion of the fastening element. l

` Previously, pointed tools have been usedto do this by placing their .ends against the exposed end of the soft core and then driving the tool `until it has been driven into `the core'and opened `up the plug, since the tol has a tapered l.shank which opens the front of the7core vmore .than the rear. If the workman `is not careful' he is likely to drive the tool too hard and far into the opening and ruin the end of the tool :in short order.

An object of the invention `is to provide a simple and eicien't devicewhich can `be used for testing plugs before they areinserted into wall holes.

Another object is to `provide a tool so constructed that `the `workman may increase his elliciency, work faster, and `be s'urethat desired results are achieved.

'A still further object is to provide a tool Yso that the plug may be :inserted into a hole to the exact amount desired.

Another object is to provide a tool in `which the plug may be slightly expanded on the tool'iitself before in'- sgrtion and then readily inserted into the hole and driven home to exactly position the plug solidly and firmly in the opening.

' Referring now merely to the preferred forms of the inventionr shown inv the drawings, it will be noted that,

Fig. `1 is` an end View -of'a wall plug;

Fig. 2 isa side 'vewi'of the same, partly in section;

Iig. 3 is4 apartial sectionallongitudinal View of the tool in position in the plug in a wall aperture up to the pointv'vhe're the plug has freely entered the aperture and is now ready to be driven the remaining distance;

Fig. 3a is a fragmentary sectional view showing the plug driven `home and before the tool ha-s been extracted;

Fig'. 4 is a section through a plug which has been fully worked on the tool before insertion into the wall aperture;

`Fig. 4a is a section through the plug showing the plug partially worked onto the shank of the tool;

Fig. Sis a longitudinal cross section of a plug with a screw fully inserted and showing the further expansion of lead liningandl compression of outer Wrapping;

Eig. 6 ishows `a' longitudinal` cross section of a plug having. a, fastening larice in place;

2,788,571 Patented Apr. 16, 19,57

Fig. 7 `shows a section pf a `fastening device and :plug ntplace in a'masonarywall;

Fig. 8 `shows a longitudinal section .of a modification of the'expander tool; and

A`Fig 9 shows a side elevation, partly 4in section, of still another form of the expander tool.

'Still referring merely to the specific'forms `of the inven tion shown herein, this invention'of expandertool is used `.to Ainsert plugs `into walls andthe plugs have a fabric body `10 and a soft lead core l1K1 and are made in various standard sizes `and lengths to suit the `particlgilar applications `and wall holes.

-In Fig. 4, the plug has been initially forced on to the tool which has an :outer pointed end v15 with a .rather sharp taper andan intermediate one 'K140i a lesser tdegree of (taper as shown. The plug is forced 'on oy hand and it will be seen that therearien'd of the plug 10 has a1- ready been slightly "expanded even before insertion into a wa'lllaperturel 'This expansion causes the necessary drive-in t and permits the introduction of a screw or bolt into the true center of the central core, as shown in Fig. 5.

rThe tool `is provided with an enlarged head 16 against which the hand or other tool suchy as a hammer etc., may be struck to force the expansion tool and the attached plug into the'wall opening. A s shown in Fig. 3, the -tool and plug noted in Fig. 4 'have been partially inserrted into the `opening in wall 12 until the plug no longer freely enters Vthe hole, at `which time force is applied to the head 16 to drive the plug 10 into the hole until its end is Hush With the face of lthe wall. To facilitate this positioning of the plug, guide gauges such as sleeves 19 having a flare 2t) at 4one end may be used and `are slipped over the shank of the tool before the plug is initially placed thereon with the ared end adjacent the plug so that 'when the face ofthe plug is substantially flush with the wall face the flare 20 on the 'gauge 19 will prevent further insertion of the plug by the driving force. When thus driven into position the plug is `so tight in the hole that the tool cannot be removed from the plug except by a twisting motion of the tool.

fIn Fig. 6is shown a plug which has had to be inserted to a greater depth than originally figured on and so has to be driven to a point beyond the surface to reach a harder surface or material in the masonry. In such cases the depth gauge 19 is reversed which will allow the sleeve to enter the prepared drilled hole with the plug, In this form, a screw 28 isV inserted and its head is related to a suitable cap or fitting 29. i .As seen in this ligure, the prepared hole extends through the entire thickness of the hollow tile or cement block.

In Fig. 7, the fastening device and the plug are in place in a masonry wall. The hole is deeper than the length of the plug, which allows for clearance of the screw or fastening device V26, which clearance is necessary to make up for Various thicknesses of elements such as 27 being fastened against the surface and in association with the head of the screw 26.

ln Fig. 8, the exterior portion of the shank 13 of the tool is threaded as at 17 which permits an interiorly threaded depth guage 21` with a flared end 23 and a sleevelike body 22 to be moved one way or another and to be locked in desired position by the usual lock nut as shown. This structure will accommodate various sizes of expansion plugs. Of course, it is obvious that the further the depth guage is moved up the shank towards the driving head 16, the greater will be the expansion of the plug due to the taper` of the shank as shown.

In Fig. 9 is shown a device in which various interchangeable tool Shanks may be employed having differing dimensions along the tapered portion 14 to accommodate various vsizes, .of plugs. The `Shanks are provided with integral flared portion 18 to act as a depth guage instead of the previously shown removable ones. lt should also be noted that this flared portion 18 has a somewhat oblique or cup shaped face against the plug to enable the plug to be held in proper position while being driven in without its end being flared out. This flared end on the guage portion is also shown in the other forms herein described and have the same effect on the adjacent end of the plug.

From the above description it will be seen that I have provided a simple and efficient tool which leaves the plugs properly and firmly in place and which has to be Wrung out by twisting so tightly is the plug disposed in its aperture. It will be observed that the taper at the en d or point of the tool has to be just right so as to be able to enter and expand the lead lining of the plug without disturbing the position of the lining or core in the plug. The fibre shell or body of the plug acts as a non-slip material but does permit a compressive movement to take place against the walls of the prepared hole when a screw is threaded into the lining. The screw also cuts a thread in said core which tends to t the screw and hold it in position.

As can be understood, various lconditions are encountered on a job which requires a versatility in the tool used to adapt it for use with various sizes of plugs and screws or bolts as well as a variety in the lengths thereof. It is also a fact that very often prepared holes are of undetermined depths such as are found when drilling holes in plaster on lath, hollow cinder blocks, or cement blocks. Such a flexibility the tool herein has to the fullest degree.

It will be also observed that the second taper of the tool shank along the portion 14 permits the plug to be expanded somewhat before insertion so that when the plug has been freely inserted into a prepared hole, the plug has to be driven the remaining distance with blows struck on the head 16. The tool is then firmly seated and has to he pulled out by a twisting motion.

These features of the tool are advantageous since the plug when thus expanded is installed solidly and firmly which permits the entry of a screw with necessary force without causing the movement of the expansion plug or its core from the original set position. Also by reason of the fact that the plugs are moved on to thel tool before insertion, as shown in Fig. 4 herein, the tool acts as a tester of the plugs before they are inserted since defective plugs will have their fabric wrapping split when moved on to the initial taper of the tool. Other' defects in the plugs will be ascertained by the procedure of advancing them on to the tool before insertion. lf the core is loose within the wrapping, this shows up in this preliminary placing of the plug on the tool.

While several forms have been shown it is obvious that various lengths of plugs can be provided to fit into various sizes and lengths of holes, and various lengths of gauges are also necessary to accord with the length of the plug to prevent damage to the end of the tool. lt is therefore clear that by the use of this very versatile tool, the operator can slip a plug into a hole, after placing it on the tool and preliminarily expanding it somewhat, and then drive the plug firmly and solidly into the hole by blows on the head of the tool. With this tool the operator can work faster and more efficiently, and can be absolutely sure of the desired results in the placement of the plug in the aperture.

While .i have described what I conisder to be highly desirable embodiments of my invention, it is obvious that changes in form can be made without departing from the spirit of my invention, and l, therefore, do not limit myself to the exact forms herein shown and described, nor to anything less than the whole of my invention as hereinbefore set forth, and ashereinafter claimed.

I claim:

l. As an article of manufacture for use with wall plugs of the type having a ab Wrapper and 2. SO met-31cm@ a tool for initially conlcally expanding andthen for driving home the plug into a previously drilled hole, said tool comprising a head portion and a connecting shank portion, said shank having a pointed end, a sharp straight taper extending from the pointed end rearwardly on the shank, a second straight taper of less degree extending from the rear of the first tapered surface to a near mid portion of said shank, said straight tapers increasing the diameter of the shank as the distance from the pointed end is increased, a straight shank portion abutting the rear of the second tapered surface and extending to the head portion, a shoulder on said shank adjacent the head portion and a tubular gauge with a straight body and a flanged end, said gauge capable of being slidably mounted on said shank with the straight end of said gauge abutting the shoulder, and the flanged end lying intermediate the ends of the second tapered portion, said flange having a flat portion substantially perpendicular to the straight body of the tubular gauge.

2. As an article of manufacture for use with wall plugs of the type having a fabric wrapper and a soft metal core, a tool for initially conically expanding and then for driving home the plug into a previously drilled hole, said tool comprising a head portion and a connecting shank portion, said shank having a pointed end, a sharp straight taper' extending from the pointed end rearwardly on the shank, a second straight taper of less degree extending from the rear of the first tapered surface to a near mid portion of said shank, said straight tapers increasing the diameter of the shank as the distance from the pointed end is increased, a straight shank portion abutting the rear of the second tapered surface, and extending to the head portion, a shoulder on said shank adjacent the head portion and a reversible tubular gauge with a straight body and a flanged end, said gauge being selectively slidably mounted on said shank with either the straight end of said gauge -abutting the shoulder or with the anged end abutting the shoulder, said flange having a flat portion substantially perpendicular to the straight body of the tubular gauge.

3. As an article of manufacture for use with wall plugs of the type having a fabric wrapper and a soft metal core, a tool for initially conically expanding and then for driving home the plug into a previously drilled hole, said tool comprising a head portion and a connecting shank portion, said shank having a pointed end, a sharp straight taper extending from the pointed end rearwardly on the shank, a second taper of less degree extending from the rear of the first tapered surface rearwardly to a point on the shank for a distance equal to at least of the length of said sharp taper, said straight tapers increasing the diameter of the shank as the distance from the pointed end is increased, a straight shank portion abutting the rear of the second tapered surface, and extending to the head portion, a shoulder on said shank adjacent the head portion and a reversible tubular gauge with a straight body and a flanged end, said gauge being selectively slidably mounted on said shank with either the straight end of said gauge abutting the shoulder or with the flanged end abutting the shoulder, said flange having a fiat portion substantially perpendicular to the straight body of the tubular gauge.

4. As an article of manufacture for use with wall plugs of the type having a fabric wrapper and a soft metal core, a tool for initially conically expanding and then driving home the plug into a previously drilled hole, said tool comprising an elongated cylindrical shank having a pointed end, a sharp straight taper extending from the pointed end rearwardly on the shank, a second straight taper of less degree extending from the rear of the rst tapered surface to a point on the shank a distance equal to at least 150% of the length of said sharp taper, a straight shank portion abutting the rear of the second tapered Surface and extending rearwardly thereof, .an

abutment on said straight shank portion and a reversible References Cited inthe le of this patent tubular gauge with a. Straight bOdy and a flanged end UNITED STATES PATENTS slidably mounted on said shank and capable of being reversibly positioned on the shank and for limiting the 1164903 Ackerman et al Dec' 21 1915 depth of penetration of plug hush with the wall surface 5 1424261 Rildolph Aug' 1 1922 when said anged end is against the plug and beyond the 1588687 Ruchter June 15 1926 wall surface when the straight end is against the plug, 1619569 Dedolich Mar' 1 1927 the opposite end .of said lgauge always abutting the 1746326 Tomkmson Feb' 11 1930 shoulder, said gauge member serving to limit the pene- 1769'591 Mmosh July 1 1930 tration of the `tool into the plug to the extent necessary 10 1886807 Heldloff NGV' 8 1932 to expand it sufficiently to achieve a driving fit for a 2226'702 Berger Dec' 31 1940 minor portion of the distance of travel of the plug into 2298379 Hoffmap Oct' 13 1942 said hole and for driving home said plug. 2547391 Hauschlld Apr' 3 1951 2,572,502 MaXWell Oct. 23, 1951 5. A tool as dened in claim 1 wherein said gauge and straight shank portion are threadedly connected for ad- 16 FOREIGN PATENTS justment.

710,611 France June 9, 1931 

